Maria shook her head. Her poofy curls bounced with the action. “I haven’t talked to her this morning, but yesterday she said something about having to meet with an EPA agent or something this morning. I bet she just stepped out. Usually, she tells Mr. Wright. Did he say anything about it?”
“Oh, gosh. I didn’t think to ask. Thanks, Maria.” I nodded, smiling politely at her, and backed out of her cubicle. Frustrated, I headed back to Haley’s desk and sat down. She had a notepad and a pen lying next to her keyboard, so I scrawled a note out for her to stop by my office when she returned, then thought better of it.
She’d been distant at work, whether because of being busy or just avoiding me I didn’t know, so maybe meeting during work about this wasn’t the best idea. I tore up the note and dropped it into her shredder, then scribbled a new note asking her to meet me at the restaurant next door at five p.m. to discuss the car accident. I figured anyone who walked past and got too nosy would have enough information to understand it was animportant meeting without learning more than they needed to about what might or might not be happening between me and Haley.
I was eager to ask her a few personal questions anyway, and that sort of conversation would be better had outside the office and away from prying eyes.
9
HALEY
Ifelt underdressed in my pants suit and jacket as I shed my wool coat and scarf near the door of the restaurant. The waiter led me across the dining room to the far corner where Parker sat waiting. He was engrossed in his phone as I approached, and I had a moment to take a deep breath and calm my heart. When I read that note on my desk about needing insurance information, I wondered what more he could need. He had taken a picture of my insurance card that had everything on it and then had my car towed. I was surprised that a rental agency dropped a brand-new car off at my driveway and told me to keep it as long as I needed, compliments of Mr. Danvers.
“Sir, Ms. Spencer is here.” The waiter bowed slightly at the shoulders and backed away as I tossed my coat into the booth and sat down. It was a quiet booth with a window view, far away from the rest of the crowd. It felt charming and intimate, which wasn’t at all what I had expected.
“Thank you, Robert.” Parker nodded and smiled at me. “Haley, I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Oh, sorry to keep you waiting. I had to finish a few things on that story about the industrial farm explosion that’s happening.”I took the silverware that was rolled up in a cloth napkin and placed it to the side, shifting a few things around on the table in front of myself. “Can you believe they want one of those massive farms in every farming community in the Midwest? It will virtually destroy all family-owned farms. No one can compete with?—”
“Haley,” Parker interrupted. “I’m not here to talk about work.”
I relaxed a little, feeling silly for jabbering about the story I was on. “Of course.” I reached for my coat, knowing my information was safely tucked in the pocket. “I have the information written down that they might need—VIN number, address, those sorts of things.”
“Yes, yes, we’ll get to that.” Parker waved his hand in a dismissive action and smiled. “I want to know how you’re doing.” His gaze was disarming, unraveling all the protective anxiety I’d bolstered to keep myself from feeling vulnerable.
This past week had made me acutely aware that I probably made a mistake. Not only was work intensely stressful, but I had no time for a relationship, especially not with my boss. We hadn’t spoken about anything personal all week, but then, it wasn’t like he had my cell phone, and I was quite busy at work. I noticed him approach my desk a few times, but I was always neck deep in work—no time to chat. And coworkers were like annoying mosquitos that swarmed around me every time I got any positive attention from management, as if they could receive a pat on the back too simply because of their proximity to me.
“I, uh… Well, I’m doing fine, I guess.” I had the slip of paper on which I wrote my information in hand, so I slid it across the table to him. Parker accepted it with a nod and put it in his pocket without looking at it.
“And how do you feel after last week’s…interaction?” The way he said the word made my heart flutter. I glanced around the dining room nervously.
Leaning in, I said, “Here? Now?” My eyebrows rose in protest of this conversation, but he nodded and flashed a sideways grin at me. “Okay, well I’m feeling fine, if you need to know. I think perhaps another time and place would be better for this discussion, though.”
“Like at work with a dozen of your coworkers eavesdropping?” His face relaxed, and I felt his foot slide against mine beneath the table. “Haley, try to take a deep breath. I only wanted to catch up with you and see how you are doing. I think we are both mature enough to admit there is something here.”
No matter how much I wanted to relax, I couldn’t. Mr. Green had fired Gretchen for having sex with Jack—coworkers and all that non-fraternization bullshit. I knew Parker was CEO, but I didn’t want to draw the ire of the entire staff because I was banging the boss.
“Yeah, I know. It’s easy for you, though. You’re the man. This is a man’s world. You would come out of this unscathed, while my reputation would be trashed. I am so sorry I threw myself at you. I did want to get to know you, and I really do like you?—”
“But?” Parker’s eyes flashed with disappointment.
“But I’m worried about all of this being a distraction from my work. And I’m concerned about what people would think. You’re my boss, who is significantly older than me, and I am a rising talent in this world. It will look like I’m sleeping my way to the top, or worse.” I felt like I was finally able to get that off my chest after a week of agonizing over it.
When Parker was with me, he was sweet and kind. His demeanor was patient and compassionate. At work, he was strict and sometimes bossy. His temper would flare out of control, and he shouted a lot. I loved this softer side of him and I wanted toget to know more about him, but I also knew how thin the ice was following the drama surrounding Gretchen and Jack. The office had been polarized, half the writers taking Jack’s side, the other half siding with the company.
“Alright, so let’s take it slow then.” Parker’s arm reached out toward me, and I let him wrap his hand around mine. His thumb traced over my knuckles. “Haley, I haven’t met anyone who makes me feel like you make me feel. I’m willing to be patient and wait it out.”
“Are you two ready for some drinks?” Robert magically appeared, staring down at our hands.
I jerked my hand back and clasped it together with my other hand in my lap. “Uh, just a glass of white wine for me, thanks.”
“I’ll have the same, Robert. And go ahead and put in the order I told you about. Ms. Spencer will be joining me for dinner.” Parker winked at the younger man and retracted his hand. Robert headed off to do Parker’s bidding, and I frowned.
“We shouldn’t be doing this. Not here. Not where anyone from the paper could walk past and see us dining.” I glanced at the window, and Parker followed my gaze. He reached up and closed a curtain, blocking me from seeing out and passersby from seeing in.
“Feel better?” he asked. “Haley, if this is really that uncomfortable for you, we don’t have to do it. I don't want you to feel pressured by me at all. I just really like you, and I’m willing to do what it takes to help you feel comfortable. Given that time we spent and how many times we…” Parker looked around the room and then back to me. “Well, given thoseinteractions, I thought maybe you felt the same. If I was wrong, forgive me. You are free to go.”
I shook my head. “No, you were right. I am interested. I’m just nervous.”
